Composite masts and mast-fuselage connection assemblies for hydrofoil sports boards

Abstract

This disclosure extends to systems, apparatus, and methods for sports board hydrofoil masts and mast-to-fuselage connection assemblies for hydrofoil sports boards. In one exemplary system, a hydrofoil mast formed as an elongated member may include a securing structure disposed in a lower region and a fuselage may include a recess into which the mast is inserted. A securing assembly may be disposed in the fuselage for actuation to secure the mast to the fuselage by interacting with the securing structure on the mast. The securing assembly may include a cam member or locking member and an actuating member. Unique hydrofoil masts constructed from composite materials having reinforcing metal members are disclosed and may be useful in the connection assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mast-to-fuselage assembly for hydrofoil sports boards, comprising:
 a hydrofoil mast formed as an elongated member and including a securing structure; and; 
 a fuselage configured for attachment at least one planning blade, wherein the fuselage comprises a mast attachment recess is disposed in the fuselage, where a bottom surface of the hydrofoil mast is coplanar with a bottom surface of the fuselage when secured in the mast attachment recess; and 
 a securing assembly that is actuatable to releasably secure the hydrofoil mast to the fuselage by interacting with the securing structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the securing assembly includes a slidable locking member that extends to a first position to interact with the securing structure and secure the mast to the fuselage and retracts to a second position to allow the hydrofoil mast to be removed from the fuselage. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the slidable locking member defines a notch shaped to correspond to a rear edge of the hydrofoil mast that contacts the hydrofoil mast in the extended position. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the securing assembly further comprises an actuating member that moves the locking member into and away from the first position. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the securing assembly further includes a spring that retains the locking member in the first position. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the securing structure comprises a flared end of the hydrofoil mast. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the securing structure comprises at least one notch formed in the hydrofoil mast. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the securing structure comprises at least one flexible member attached to the hydrofoil mast and disposed in the at least one notch. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrofoil mast comprises a body formed from a composite material surrounding a plurality of reinforcing metal members. 
     
     
       10. A hydrofoil assembly, comprising:
 a hydrofoil mast formed as an elongated member with a flared lower end; 
 a fuselage formed as an elongated member with at least one planning blade attached at an end thereof, and comprising a mast attachment recess defined as a bore in the fuselage that is generally orthogonal to a long axis of the fuselage, where a bottom surface of the hydrofoil mast is coplanar with a bottom surface of the fuselage when secured in the mast attachment recess; and 
 a securing assembly that secures the mast in the mast attachment recess in a first position and allows the mast to be removed from the mast attachment recess in a second position. 
 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the securing assembly includes a slidable locking member that extends to the first position and retracts to the second position. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the slidable locking member defines a notch shaped to correspond to a rear edge of the hydrofoil mast at a point above the flared lower end. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the securing assembly further comprises an actuating member that moves the locking member into and away from the first position. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the securing assembly further includes a spring disposed in the fuselage and in contact with the locking member that retains the locking member in the first position. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the hydrofoil mast comprises a body formed from a composite material surrounding a plurality of reinforcing metal members. 
     
     
       16. A mast-to-fuselage assembly for hydrofoil sports boards, comprising:
 a hydrofoil mast formed as an elongated member and including a securing structure; and; 
 a fuselage configured for attachment at least one planning blade, wherein the fuselage comprises a mast attachment recess is disposed in the fuselage, and 
 a securing assembly that is actuatable to releasably secure the hydrofoil mast to the fuselage by interacting with the securing structure, wherein the securing assembly includes a slidable locking member that extends to a first position to interact with the securing structure and secure the mast to the fuselage and retracts to a second position to allow the hydrofoil mast to be removed from the fuselage, the securing assembly further comprising an actuating member that moves the locking member into and away from the second position wherein the actuating member includes a pivot surface for rotation and a camming surface that interacts with the locking member and the actuating member is rotated. 
 
     
     
       17. A hydrofoil assembly, comprising:
 a hydrofoil mast formed as an elongated member with a flared lower end; 
 a fuselage formed as an elongated member with at least one planning blade attached at an end thereof, and comprising a mast attachment recess defined as a bore in the fuselage that is generally orthogonal to a long axis of the fuselage, and 
 a securing assembly that secures the mast in the mast attachment recess in a first position and allows the mast to be removed from the mast attachment recess in a second position, wherein the securing assembly includes a slidable locking member that extends to the first position and retracts to the second position, the securing assembly comprising an actuating member that moves the locking member into and away from the first position which includes a pivot surface for rotation and a camming surface that interacts with the locking member and the actuating member is rotated. 
 
     
     
       18. A hydrofoil assembly, comprising:
 a hydrofoil mast formed as an elongated member with a flared lower end; 
 a fuselage formed as an elongated member with at least one planning blade attached at an end thereof, and comprising a mast attachment recess defined as a bore in the fuselage that is generally orthogonal to a long axis of the fuselage, and 
 a securing assembly that secures the mast in the mast attachment recess in a first position and allows the mast to be removed from the mast attachment recess in a second position, wherein the securing assembly includes a slidable locking member that extends to the first position and retracts to the second position, the securing assembly comprising an actuating member that moves the locking member into and away from the first position, 
 wherein the fuselage further defines a securing assembly recess in which the actuating member pivots. 
 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the hydrofoil mast includes a notched in to receive the actuating member.